Cameos from English history Author:Charlotte Mary Yonge Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Harold. CAMEO V. THE TWO HAROLDS. (1060-1066.) Kings of England. Kings of France. Emperors of Gerntany. 1011. Edward the Confessor. 1059. Philippe I... more ». 1055. Heinrich IV. 1066. Harold. The death of Godwin did not at first seem likely to diminish the power of his family. Harold, his eldest surviving son, was highly endowed with mental powers and personal beauty and prowess, and was much preferred by Edward the Confessor to the old Earl himself. He obtained all his father's lands, and, shortly after, distinguished himself in a war with the Welsh, showing, however, that vain-glory was his characteristic ; for he set up mounds of stones along the course of his march, bearing the inscription, " Here Harold conquered." The earls who had hitherto balanced the power of the Godwin family, were, about this time, removed by death. Leofric, of Mercia, and his son Algar, died within a few years of each other; and Algar's sons, Edwin and Morkar, were as yet young and timid. Old Earl Siward Biorn fought his last battle when he assisted Malcolm Canmore in overthrowing tlio murderous usurper, Macbeth, in Scotland. In the battle, Siward's eldest son, of the same name as himself, was killed. The father only asked if his death-wound was in front, and when he heard it was, " I heartily rejoice," said he ; " no other death is worthy of my son." He himself was obliged, much against his will, to die in peace. " I am ashamed," he said, " after so many battles, to die like a cow; case me in my armor, gird on my sword, put on my helmet, give me my shield and battle-axe, lift me to my feet, that I may die like a man !" The fierce old Earl's younger son, Walthcof, was a mere child, and the earldom of Northumbria was therefore given to Tostig, the son of Godwin, but he so misgoverned ...« less